Russification

Russification is the cultural assimilation of communities by Russia, often practiced under the Russian Empire during the 1800s and early 1900s. Russian nationals were given administrative positions across the empire, and the Russian language was taught at schools and enforced in public life. In addition, the immigration of Russians to colonized regions such as the Baltics, Finland, Ukraine, and Central Asia led to the Russification of the regions, as the Russian culture began to dominate certain areas. Russification was enforced in Poland after the failed Polish nationalist uprising of 1863, while Ukraine was also oppressed by Russia. Jews, Catholics, and other religious minorities would also be persecuted by the Orthodox Christian Russian elite, and the czars encouraged anti-Jewish riots known as "pogroms". In the 21st century, Russification could be seen in areas such as Chuvashia, central Russia, and eastern Ukraine, where Russian cultural groups attempted to enforce the adoption of Russian culture over indigenous cultures.